Hairpieces

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a hairpiece and method of making same in which a plurality of hairs are secured to a base by a chemically setting adhesive of the type which undergoes a chemical reaction in the actual setting process.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Reginald Frauds Dooley 168 Queen Drive, Childvvall, Liverpool, 15, England 21 Appl/No 728,485

22 Filed May [3,1968

[45] Patented Aug. 3, 1971 [32] Priority May 19, 1967 [33] Great Britain [54] HAIRI'IECES 9 Clahna, 1 Drawing Ffl.

[56] Reference Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 338.101 3/1886 Paton 132/53 l,l48,539 8/1915 Samuel. 132/53 1,464,089 8/l923 Ernest 132/53 3,077,891 2/1963 Lane 132/5 3,l65,l07 1/1965 Martin etal. 132/53 3,307,563 3/1967 Regina 132/53 3,42I,52l I/1969 Rich, Jr. 132/5 3,472,246 10/1969 Ostrom 132/53 Primary Examiner- Louis 0. Mancene Assistant ExaminerGregory E. McNeil] Attorney-Scrivener, Parker, Scrivener and Clarke ABSTRACT: The invention provides a hairpiece and method of making same in which a plurality of hairs are secured to a base by a chemically setting adhesive of the type which undergoes a chemical reaction in the actual setting process HAIRPIECES SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to hairpieces and in particular to hairpieces for wearing on the human head.

In known hairpieces, hair is secured in a base with the aid of glue of the solvent responsive or air-drying type. Washing of the hairpiece in water causes the hair to become detached from the base by softening, melting or dissolving ofthe glue.

Thus an object of the present invention is to provide a hairpiece which can be washed in water without the hair becoming detached from the base.

In this specification and claims appended thereto, a chemically setting adhesive is defined as one which undergoes a chemical reaction in the actual setting process. Examples of chemically setting adhesives are thermosetting resin adhesives such as the urea, phenol, resorcinol, furan, epoxy and melamine resins. In thermosetting adhesives, a monomer or low-molecular weight polymer is mixed with a catalyst, or in some cases additional reactants, and applied in liquid form to one or both ofthe adherends.

According to one aspect of the present invention a hairpiece for wearing on the head consists of a length of backing fabric, a plurality of hairs knotted to said backing fabric and projecting from one side only of the backing fabric and chemically set adhesive by which the backing fabric is adhered to the base.

According to a further aspect of the present invention a method of making a hairpiece comprises taking a cast ofa portion of the head to be covered by the hairpiece, using this cast as a mould to form a shell-like base of size and shape corresponding substantially to the head portion to be covered, knotting a plurality of hairs into a length of backing fabric so that they all project from one surface thereof, applying a chemically setting adhesive to the other surface of the backing fabric, and adhering the shell-like base to said other surface.

Preferably the hairs are knotted into the backing fabric such that the concentration of hairs is greater adjacent the edge of the fabric, the fabric being dimensioned such that the region of greater hair concentration extends beyond the rim of the shell-like base.

Prior to adhering the base to said other surface, a hem is advantageously formed around the edge of the fabric by folding and adhering said other surface onto itself.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic sectional side elevation of one embodiment of a hairpiece constructed according to the present invention and in position on a human head.

With reference to the drawing, an outline ofpart ofa human head is shown in broken lines and is denoted by numeral 1. The head has an existing hairline denoted by the dotted line 2. It is assumed that the head has a bald or balding area which is to be covered by a hairpiece. In this example the bald area lies on the top of the head and extends from the forehead 3 to the upper back region 4.

The hairpiece includes a shell-like base 5 which is constructed so as to substantially conform to the shape and area of the head portion to be covered. A plurality of hairs 6 extend from a length of netlike backing fabric 7 which, in this embodiment, is made of silk. The concentration of the hairs is arranged to be substantially uniform over a major central por tion of the fabric 7 but is relatively greater in an outer edge strip 8 extending around the periphery of the fabric 7. The hairs are secured in the supporting fabric 7 at their one ends for example by knotting, and extend from one surface of the fabric.

A layer 9 of chemically setting adhesive, as hereinbefore defined, covers the other surface of the fabric 7 permanently attaching the hairs to the fabric 7. The edge strip 8 of greater hair concentration is folded in on itself to form a hem 11.

The base is attached to said other surface of the fabric 7 by adhesive, the outer edge of the hem 11 extending just beyond a rim l0 ofthe base.

The base 5 is adhered to the head portion by chemically setting double-sided paper or tape adhesive, for example, the hair from the folded hem portion emerging substantially tangentially to the head to give a natural" hairline.

A method of constructing the above-described hairpiece is as follows:

The existing hairline bordering the bald portion to be covered is first marked with indelible ink or suitable dye. A plaster of paris mould is then taken of the complete top, rear and side portions of the head forming a helmetlike body. The ink or dye is at least partially transferred to the inside of the helmetlike body marking an area corresponding to the head portion to be covered.

The helmetlike body is used as a mould to cast a thin shelllike baseplate whose dimensions correspond to the markings left by the ink or dye. The baseplate is preferably made of a glass fiber material which may contain coloring matter to match the final color of the base with the hairs.

A length of backing fabric, preferably silk, is cut to dimensions slightly greater than the area of the baseplate. A plurality of hairs is knotted into the silk, the hairs being secured at their one ends so as to extend from one surface of the backing fabric. The concentration of the hairs is made substantially uniform over a major central portion of the backing fabric but is made relatively greater in an outer edge strip extending around the periphery of the fabric.

A layer of the chemically setting adhesive is then applied to the other surface of the backing fabric to permanently secure the hairs in place. Silk is chosen for the backing material since a close-woven material is required to prevent the adhesive seeping through to said one surface where it could agglomerate and interfere with the lie of the hair. A small amount of rubber is advantageously included in the adhesive for this layer during the preparation of the adhesive, in order to increase the flexibility of the adhesive when cured.

A further layer of chemically setting adhesive is applied to an edge portion of said other surface of the backing fabric behind said strip having greater hair concentration and this edge portion is folded onto itself to form a hem.

A layer of chemically setting adhesive is then applied to the convex surface of the shell-like base and the latter is adhered to said other surface of the fabric such that the hem extends beyond the rim of the shell-like base around the complete periphery thereof.

Spaced-apart holes are drilled through the baseplate and backing fabric to allow the head to "breathe" when the hairpiece is being worn.

The hair may then be styled and the hairpiece attached in position on the head by means of double-sided adhesive or other suitable means.

Coloring matter may be added to the adhesive to match its color with the hairs.

In a further embodiment, hair is knotted or otherwise fastened into a netlike backing fabric made of nylon, silk or like close-woven material, and the net attached to one surface of a thin plastics or glass fiber base by means of said chemically reactive adhesive. The base is premoulded in the shape of the part of the head which the hairpiece is to cover. A strip of nylon or silk net or tape having hairs joined thereto is attached by means of said adhesive to the edge region of the other surface of said thin base. A second thin plastics or glass fiber base, of similar dimensions and premoulded to a similar shape as said first base, is attached by means of said adhesive in mating engagement with said other surface.

lclaim:

l. A method of making a hairpiece comprising taking a cast ofa portion of the head to be covered by the hairpiece, molding on the cast a substantially rigid shell-like base of plastic material of a size and shape corresponding substantially to the head portion to be covered, knotting hair into a fabric backing of a size to extend marginally on all sides beyond the peripheral edge of said base, a greater concentration of hair being provided around the complete periphery of the fabric, applying to the underside of said fabric over the knotted ends of said hair a chemical setting adhesive having sufficient rubber added thereto to provide flexibility to said adhesive when set, folding under and adhering onto itself said periphery of the fabric containing the greater concentration of hair to provide a hem around the entire margin of said fabric from which hair extends, and adhering said base to the underside of said fabric by said chemical setting adhesive.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which, prior to taking the cast of the head portion, the existing hairline on the head is marked with dye which is at least partially transferred to the inside of the cast of the head when this is taken, so as to provide indication of the size of the shell-like base.

3. A method according to claim I in which the mould of the head is taken in plaster of Paris.

4. A method according to claim 1 in which the shell-like base is mounded of flexible glass fiber.

5. A method according to claim 1 in which adhesive is applied to a convex outer surface of the shell before the shell is engaged by said other surface of the fabric.

6. A method according to claim 1 in which holes are made through the base and backing fabric to ventilate the head when the hairpiece is in position on the head.

7. A method according to claim I in which coloring matter is added to the adhesive to match the color of the adhesive with the color of the hairs.

8. A method according to claim 1 in which coloring matter is added to the base material to match the color of the base with the color of the hairs.

9. A method according to claim 1 in which the backing material is silk. 

1. A method of making a hairpiece comprising taking a cast of a portion of the head to be covered by the hairpiece, molding on the cast a substantially rigid shell-like base of plastic material of a size and shape corresponding substantially to the head portion to be covered, knotting hair into a fabric backing of a size to extend marginally on all sides beyond the peripheral edge of said base, a greater concentration of hair being provided around the complete periphery of the fabric, applying to the underside of said fabric over the knotted ends of said hair a chemical setting adhesive having sufficient rubber added thereto to provide flexibility to said adhesive when set, folding under and adhering onto itself said periphery of the fabric containing the greater concentration of hair to provide a hem around the entire margin of said fabric from which hair extends, and adhering said base to the underside of said fabric by said chemical setting adhesive.
 2. A method according to claim 1 in which, prior to taking the cast of the head portion, the existing hairline on the head is marked with dye which is at least partially transferred to the inside of the cast of the head when this is taken, so as to provide indication of the size of the shell-like base.
 3. A method according to claim 1 in which the mould of the head is taken in plaster of Paris.
 4. A method according to claim 1 in which the shell-like base is mounded of flexible glass fiber.
 5. A method according to claim 1 in which adhesive is applied to a convex outer surface of the shell before the shell is engaged by said other surface of the fabric.
 6. A method according to claim 1 in which holes are made through the base and backing fabric to ventilate the head when the hairpiece is in position on the head.
 7. A method according to claim 1 in which coloring matter is added to the adhesive to match the color of the adhesive with the color of the hairs.
 8. A method according to claim 1 in which coloring matter is added to the base material to match the color of the base with the color of the hairs.
 9. A method according to claim 1 in which the backing material is silk. 